The 2008 movie Cadillac Records is the story of Chess Records. The Best of Chess is the original versions of the songs used in the Cadillac Records movie starring Beyonce, Mos Def, Solange, Jeffrey Wright, Raphael Saadiq ... more »and others. Cadillac Records chronicles the history of Chess Records, the pre-eminent blues label of the 1950s and 1960s co-founded by Leonard Chess and his brother Phil. Featured songs in Cadillac Records by Etta James (played by Beyonce Knowles), Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), Little Walter (Columbus Short), Willie Dixon (Cedric the Entertainer), Chuck Berry (Mos Def), Howlin' Wolf (Eamonn Walker) and more.« less
The 2008 movie Cadillac Records is the story of Chess Records. The Best of Chess is the original versions of the songs used in the Cadillac Records movie starring Beyonce, Mos Def, Solange, Jeffrey Wright, Raphael Saadiq and others. Cadillac Records chronicles the history of Chess Records, the pre-eminent blues label of the 1950s and 1960s co-founded by Leonard Chess and his brother Phil. Featured songs in Cadillac Records by Etta James (played by Beyonce Knowles), Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), Little Walter (Columbus Short), Willie Dixon (Cedric the Entertainer), Chuck Berry (Mos Def), Howlin' Wolf (Eamonn Walker) and more.
CD Reviews
Often imitated, never duplicated
B. McEwan | Brooklyn, NY USA | 12/26/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a great CD, with re-mastered versions of the original blues songs featured in the film, Cadillac Records. These are the real thing, blues written and performed by by Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Etta James, Little Walter, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. And the quality is very good, thanks to remasters of old tapes laid down in the 40s, 50s and early 60s.
Known at the time as "race records," these original blues tunes by people we now call African-Americans set the stage for early rock n roll and for white rockers like Elvis Presley to score huge hits with songs like My Babe, one of Little Walter's signature tunes. Eventually some of the black singers had cross-over hits. For instance, At Last by Etta James got decent airplay on mainstream stations, but more often than not it was the white bands that made it big. This was especially in the South, where white and black audiences were segregated by law and many clubs refused to book black performers.
The stars of Cadillac Records (Beyonce and Mos Def, for example) do fine versions of these songs in the film, but there really isn't anything like hearing the original recordings. I recommend buying this disk and the film soundtrack and listening to them together. It's a great experience and it's also satisfying to know that Muddy and many of the Chess artists are finally getting the broad recognition they deserve.
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Blues/Rock 101: An Introduction
Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 01/30/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Regardless of the merits of "Cadillac Records," which chronicles the story of the Chess brothers founding of one of the great record dynasties, the sixteen tracks contained on this disc are the real deal and are required listening for any serious music collector. Accept no substitutes. Each of these six artists has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And how could they not? The far reaching influence of these six artists is incalculable. So forget the soundtrack album; this is what you need. The raw power of these songs is staggering.
If there's a criticism to be leveled, it's the brevity of this collection (which clocks in under 45 minutes). If you're ready to move on from this introductory lesson into the blues, Chess has a number of multi-disc sets available. 1997's two-disc THE CHESS BLUES-ROCK SONGBOOK also includes such blues stalwarts as John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon, Lowell Fulson, J. B. Lenoir and Elmore James. If that's not enough, 1992's 4-CD box set contains 101 tracks of classic blues. But if you're looking for a solid introduction of what Chess Records was all about, you can't go wrong with this single-disc collection. This is essential listening. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED [Running Time - 44:07]"
No Mold on these Golden Oldies
B. Mellberg | Bay Area, CA | 01/24/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"SOOOOOOOOOO happy I chose to buy the original Chess Recordings when faced with a choice between this CD and the Soundtrack. Worth the price just for Little Walter's "My Babe" - I was instantly 13 years old again, dancing in the gym at Roosevelt Jr. High!"
A Strong Set by Electric Blues Pioneers
Art and Music | 02/14/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This recording is a good example of honest, soulful blues music and early rock and roll as is was before rampant commercialism kidnapped the music industry. Every track is a classic, and that is why these songs are still played by blues bands today.
The CD is a good representation of what you might hear in a juke joint in the 1950s or today. It is an enjoyable collection of familiar standards for us veteran blues listeners, and a terrific introduction to good blues and artists for new blues fans.
This is vital music and I congratulate the producers and investors whose efforts are helping to keep it alive and available.
Emerging rock and blues guitarists should note that the Chuck Berry tracks are actually twelve-bar blues progressions, that same song form as most of the other songs on this CD, but hopped up with quicker tempos to appeal to younger listeners."
Take me home
Donna Dean | 07/01/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I grew up with these artists and these songs, blasting from the famous KWBR, later KDIA, in Oakland, CA. I couldn't get enough. It infuriated me when the White phonies stole the music, and they got played, while the real artists couldn't. I hate Pat Boone to this day, and have no respect for the rest of the lot. Finally, finally the original blues men and women are revered for what they are. Sadly, all too many of them are dead, and died in poverty. But their music is eternal."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1